Eggs & Ham

Friends & Family,

This Sunday I’m preaching on what would happen if we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus instead of “Easter Sunday.” I don’t have anything against bunnies, baskets, or Cadbury Eggs. But, I want us to consider the implications a risen Jesus has on our lives. Did Jesus ever intend for us to celebrate his resurrection with boiled eggs and baked ham? Or, might there be something more to this life?

Check out the promo video, share it with your friends, and make plans to come to DCC this Sunday @ 10am. I hope to see you there!

-pastor bill

Easter Sermon Intro from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Easter 2011: What If?

Check out the video e-vite to DCC’s Easter service and make plans to be there this Sunday @ 10.

Easter Invite 2011 from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Senior Minister Bill Mesaeh with an open invite to worship with us at DCC Easter Sunday 2011.

Get Bill’s Blog in your Inbox

Friends and Family,

I’ve started a new service that allows me to easily share articles from my blog with you via email.  If we’ve emailed each other before, you may be receiving an email asking you to subscribe or confirm a subscription to my blog.  Don’t worry: your email address was not shared with anyone, and you can--very easily--opt out of any future emails.

I’m hoping you stay on though!  Over the past 6 months, I’ve been gathering data and preferences as to what people would like a pastor to write about.  I’m looking forward to setting time aside every week to write about the topics you chose:

1. Interacting with the culture from a biblical perspective
   1. How to share my faith
   2. How to speak out on political issues
   3. What’s the Bible say about drinking, R-rated movies, etc.?
2. Family Life
   1. Raising my kids the way God intended
   2. How to be the right kind of husband/wife
   3. Growing spiritually with my spouse
3. Biblical & Theological Studies
   1. Where did the Bible come from?
   2. Do we have free will?
   3. What does the Bible really say about heaven, hell, angels, demons, & death?
4. Christian Maturity
   1. Why should I pray, fast, study my Bible, etc.?
   2. How do I deal with anger, guilt, and regret?
   3. What’s supposed to happen between baptism and death?
5. Biblical Manhood
   1. How to lead my family with a backbone and a soft heart
   2. Being a husband my wife needs and adores
   3. Being a dad my kids look up to
6. Leadership
   1. How to influence people around you
   2. Why God expects you to lead and how to do it right
   3. Professional development and continual personal growth

If you haven’t received the email and would like to subscribe, great!  Just go here and fill out the form.  Regardless, have a great day!

-bill

What Should I write about?

Friends & Family,

A while back I posted this questionnaire online asking you to tell me what you’d like a pastor to write about (if at all!). Well, I’m almost ready to pile up the data and start writing. It’s not too late to weigh in though. If you don’t mind, please take a few seconds to let me know what you’d like to read.

Thanks in advance,

-pastor bill

My Antioch

Antioch Christian Church: Coal City, IN

This is the small little country church I preached in during my first year of grad school (so, 2003-2004 ‘ish).  A great congregation full of wonderful people where the average age was well over 70!

This would be where I “cut my teeth” in preaching.  These fine people endured me figuring out how to write a sermon, how to preach it, etc.  On a real good day, we had 45 people.

Acts 13:1–3 (NLT)

¹ Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.² One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”³ So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

The Untold Story of the New Testament Church

March 2011Newsletter

This month I want to tell you about a fun little book that gives us an opportunity to relive the New Testament’s story in a refreshing way. In The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, Frank Viola, “…has ‘straightened out’ the NT (New Testament) for us! The Bible we have today is fully inspired, yes. But the order of the NT epistles—well—a complete jumble. Instead of being arranged by date, they are arranged by size!” (p. 9, from the foreword)

So, this book tells the story of God’s second covenant (aka: the New Testament) according to the way God put His story together. After reading through (which can be done in one afternoon: it’s only 180 pages), you’ll walk away with more of a “ground-level” understanding of how the church—God’s Family—came to be. Narrative in style, the book reads almost like a novel. You’ll need to read it with your Bible at your side because the footnotes will have you flipping through all 27 NT books and exposing you to stories and characters that you may have never noticed before.

The author presents the giving of our second covenant as a play with five major “motions.”

1. The Godhead in Eternity Past

2. The Son is Sent to Earth

3. The Church is Born

4. The Son Returns to Earth

5. The Godhead in Eternity Future

The third motion is the largest and longest, as Viola unfolds the growth of the very same church body we are all a part of today. Following the book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, the author takes us through Jerusalem, Antioch, Galatia, the greater Grecian area, Ephesus, and finally Rome. Along the way, he “sharpens the focus” with historical tidbits that help us better understand the culture of the day.

If you’re looking for a fun book to read as you hibernate and wait out the last of this cold weather, I recommend checking this one out. It’s about $10 on Amazon.com. If you read it, let me know what you think!

At Your Side,

-bill

From this day Forward…

On February 13th I preached a sermon titled “How to be Rich” (you can hear it here: http://www.defiancechristian.org/sermons/).  In that sermon, I talked about “placing a stake in the ground” to declare that your life will change, you will seek to be rich in your relationship with Jesus, and you won’t let the ever-changing world affect how you live your life.

I recently read a statement Rick Warren wrote about being purpose-driven, and it squares perfectly with this very idea.  I’ve pasted it in below.  You can also find it on his website here: http://www.purposedrivenchurch.com/en-US/AboutUs/PD_declaration.htm

Read it.  Pray about it.  Then, begin to jot down ideas for your own declaration.  If you decide to write one yourself (yep: I am going to), I’d love to read it and (with your permission) post it here to share with others.

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN DECLARATION

Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering, I’ve made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven,  I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me,”  character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose driven, and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say, "However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes!  Wherever you lead and whatever the cost I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway.  Whatever it takes, Lord; whatever it takes!  I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!'"